Silencer for firearms.



R. A. MOORE. SILENGER r03 FIREARMS. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 24,190 9. I 71 7, Patented May 3; 1910.

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ROBERT A. MOORE, OF. CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE MOORE SILENCER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A. CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

shall not only prevent the discharge from being audible but shall be of such construction that the gases of explosion shall be caused to sweep through and out of the device in such a manner that the device shall be kept both clean and cool.

. The above and other objects of the invention will be hereinafter fully set forth and claimed and illustratedin the accompanying drawings, in which:

'.Figure 1 is a side elevation of the de-' vice as applied to an ordinary army rifle and constituting a hilt of the bayonet; Fig.

- 2 is .a view similar to Fig. 1, but with one I provided with the usual front sight 11 and, the strap clip of the side plates removed to disclose the interior construction; Fi

of the removed plate; Fig. 4 is a transverse longitudinal section on the line H of Fig. 2, the movable member hereinafter described however being in a different position from that indicated in Fig. 2; Fig. 5. is a slightly difierent form of the silencer adapted especially for a common target or sportsmans rifle; Fig. 6 is a vertical cross section onithe line 66 of Fig. 5, andFig. 7 is a detail view illustrating a slightly modified form of the movable member of the device.-

Throughout the following descri tion and on the several figures of the'drawlngs similar parts are referred to by like reference characters.

At 10 is illustrated the muzzle of the rifle 12. The silencer comprises a hollow casing 13, made of any suitable material or form, and the same is herein illustrated as comprising a hooked end 13 adapted to embrace the extreme muzzle end of the gun by virtue of a lip 14, and the casing extends thence rearw'ardly parallel with 'thegun barrel upon any side thereof, fpreferab y the lower,- and for convenience is shown as abutting against the clip 12 at the rear end 13 of the casing. The casing preferably is so. disposed as to lie substantially Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed November 24, 1909. Serial No. 529,775.-

3 is an edge view SILENCER FOR FIREARMS.

Patented May 3, 1910.

' snugly against the gun barrel, and is provided with any suitable means for detachably securing it in place, such means being indicatedas a spring do 15 cooperating with the sight support an another dog 16 cooperating with the structure of the clip 12. It is to be understood that the device is I adaptable for use in connection with any ortype of firearm and that the silencer per se may be made in many different specific forms so long as the essence thereof remains substantially as defined by the fol lowing description and the claims hereto appended. I

\Vhen the device is to be used on an army rifie the casing 13 constitutes the handle or hilt of the bayonet, the latter being indicated at 17 and connected to the casing through one or more lugs 18 extending forwardly .froin the casing. It is to be observed in this connection also that a comparativelysmall portion of the silencer occupies a position in front of the muzzle of the gun and that no material alteration is required to be made in the structure of thegun itself in order to accommodate the new device. A pair of hand uards 19 may be formed on the hot tom 0 the casing if desired, although they form no portion'of the silencer as such.

The casing is provided with a plurality of small vents 20 arranged in suitable locations and through which the gases of explosion from the gun find exit. These vents are shown however as being formed in the sides of the casing, the side plate 13' of the casing being removable and adapted to be secured in place normally by means of interlocking lugs 13". provided with a bore 21 in-alinement with the bore of the gun and through which the projectile passes without obstruction, in the manner common to devices of this character. The wallof the casing whereby the bore 21 is formed. is shaped in a peculiar manner, the same being turned or bent inwardly as indicated at 21' whereby hollow or dish shaped surfaces are formed on the interior of the casing adjacent the bore,

Within the casing and mounted for movement in any suitable manner is what may be termed ad vider 22, the same being movable across in the rear of the casin bore for the purpose of se arating or divi ing the gases of explosion rom the projectile, such movement of the divided taking place immediately after the projectile passes through the bore 21. I am aware of the fact that it is not broadly new to provide a device of this character having a member within the casing movable so as to close the casing bore after the passage of the projectile, but sofar as I am aware I am the first to provide a divider of such a character and disposition as to separate or divide the gases from the projectile and yet so as not to close or seal the casing bore. a

A serious difliculty heretofore existing in silencers is that when the gases are trapped within the casing the casing becomes so hot as to impair theusefulness of the implement for rapid execution and also I have found by actual experience with previous devices that the heat generated becomes so excessive that it'is impossible to sight or aim the gun with accuracy. This present device is so constructed, with reference particularly to the divider, that the same does not become heated in use and to this end the device is so mounted as to be spaced slightly from the wall of the bore 21 when moved into place across the said bore. By this arrangement and especially in view of the form of the operative portion of the divider and theform of the walls 21' the rush of gases within the casing is such as to cause an actual inrush of cool air through the bore 21 while the gases of explosion escape outwardly through the vents 20. The divider 22 may be located inany suitahleposition and made to be movable by virtue of the force of the gases of explosion in any suitable direction just so that the operative dividing portion thereof shall be brought into place in the rear of the bore 21 and to cause not only that the gases shall be separated or divided from the projectile but that the gases them selves shall be divided into two or more portions and that the portions so divided shall be causedto move from the divider in difierent directions and thence into all portions of the casing and outward through the vents.

Within the casing are one or more diaphragms or partitions 23 and 24 which serve to form the interior of the casing into a plurality of chambers. The diaphragms are shown as extending substantially throughout the length of the casing and are connect ed thereto at their ends only at 25' and 26.-

The diaphragms being madeof flexible material and attached at their ends only are adapted to better equalize the internal pressure than if they were rigid or connected to the casing throughout their length. Each of the diaphragms is provided with an ope or bore in alinement with the bore 21 and bore of the gun through which the may pass from onefchamber to another of the casing. The divider 22is shown as movably mounted within said openings and is preferably pivoted at 22' adjacent. the

opening 23' of.the diaphragm 23, the bottom or end of the opening 24' of the other diaphragm serves as a stop to limit the movement of the divider in one or its nor mal position. The inner portion or end of the divider 22 is formed into abroad wing 27 subject to operation by the internal compression of the gases which causes the divider to turn on its pivot and to cause the outer end'portion 28 thereof to pass across the path of the projectile in the rear of the bore 21 and between the wall .thereof and the diaphragm opening 24. The force of the expansion of the gases being directed at right angles to the member 27 will have a superior effect to the force acting on the- 'Viewed as in Fig. 2 the shutter 28 is I curved'so as to conform to the curvature of the front end of the casing and whereby a substantially uniform space will be left between the shutter and the casing when the shutter isin its operative posltion. The shutter viewed in cros section or in plan is formed into aplurality of concave members for-ining hollow or concave surfaces 28' diverging from a central dividing edge, serving to separate the gases into a plurality of portions whence they will sweep laterally in opposite directions from the shutter and thence rearwa'rdly into and through the several chambers of the casing. Such rush of gases past-the sides of the shutter will cause an mrush of cool air through the bore 21 between the'bore and the shutter by in- 'ection. After the force of the gases has een dissipated the divider will return to its normal position, as indicated in Fig. 2, by any suitable means asby the force of gravity acting upon the shutter.

The form of the device illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6-is not 'essentially'difierent from that above described except that no provision is made for connection of the bayonet.

The modification indicated in 7 is an illustration of one of the many forms of device which may be employed, the divider to the gun barrel, and a divider within the casing movable across .said'casing bore and spaced therefrom, substantially as set forth.

2. In combinationwith a' muzzle, a casing secured thereto and having a bore in lecalinement with the gun bore and also having a plurality of gas vents, and means mounted within the casing and movable across the casing bore .and spaced therefrom whereby the rush of gases within the casing will cause gas vents, a diaphragm within the casing.

forming a plurality of chambers, and a member extending through said diaphragm and connected thereto, said member .being movable across the casing bore and spaced therefrom,

5. The hereindescribed silencer compris- -ing' a hollow casing having abore and a plurality'of gas vents, a diaphragm within the casing dlviding the same into a plurality of chambers, a portion of said vents leading outward from one chamber and another portion from the other'chamber, said draphragm having an opening in almement with the casing bore, and a divider extendingthrough said. diaphragm opening and pivoted to the diaphragm, the inner portion of the divider constituting a wing to be operated by the gases under compression and the outer portion of the divider being movable aoross the bore of the casing, substantially as set forth.

6; The hereindescribed silencer comprising a hollow casing having a bore and a plu-- rality of gas vents, a plurality of diaphragms Within the casing separating the same into several chambers, each of said. chambers having a portion of said vents extending therefrom, said diaphragms each having an opening in alinement' with said bore, and a divider extending through said diaphragm openings and pivoted to one of the diaphragms, the 'wall of the opening of the other diaphragm constituting a stop for the divider in one position, the inner por-' tion of the divider constituting a wing to'be operated upon by the gases under compression and the outer portlon of the divider being movable across t .bore of the casing be:

tween the same and the adjacent diaphragm if 7'. The hereindescribed silencer comprising a hollow casing having a bore and a plurality of gas vents, a flexible diaphragm within the. casing extending longitudinally thereof and connected at its ends to the easing, said diaphragm forming the interior of the easing into a plurality ofchambers and having an opening therethrough, and means movable across the casing bore to prevent the eseape of gases outwardly therethrough and to cause the dissipation thereof through the casing vents on opposite sides of said diaphragm. v

, 8. In combination with a gun muzzle, a' casing having a bore adjacent the gun -11l1|Z zle and extending thence rearwardly along the'gnn barrel, saidcasing being provided with a plurality of gas vents, a plurality of diaphragms within the casing, each having an opening in alinement with the casing bore and said diaphragms extendii'ig thence rearwa-rdly forming the interior of the easing. into longitudinal chambers, each of said chambers having a portion of said gas vents leading therefrom, and a divider operable w thin the diaphragm openings and'movable across the casing bore and spaced therefrom whereby the gases are caused to pass outwardly through the gas vents from the several chambers.

9. In a silencer, the combination of a casing having a bore and a plurality of gas vents, and a divider mounted within the casing and movableaoross said bore, that portion of the diaphragm which crosses 'tlie bore being of double concave construction, whereby the gases are divided into two portions and caused tosweep laterally and rearwardly and toescape through said vents.

10. In a silenc'erfor fire arms, a'casing 7 having a bore and one or more gas exit vents,

the structure of the casing surrounding said bore being extendedinwardly forming coni cave surfaces, and a divider mounted within the casing and comprising a wing subject to the force of the gases of'explosion and a shutter operated by said wing so as to move across the space within said bore, said shuttercomprising a plurality of concave surfaces cooperating with the concaved form of the casing aforesaid.

In testnnon y whereof I afiixmy signature in presence of two witnesses.

V R BE T A; MOORE. Witnesses: V

' GEO. L. 'BEELEB, ARTHUR-L BRYA'Nr. 

